MCA still in the dark about IPL whistle-blower's identity

It has been more than two months since the issue cropped up but Mumbai Cricket Association officials are still in the dark about the identities of their two Ranji Trophy players both the whistleblower and the alleged culprit who were involved in another IPLrelated corruption attemptWe have not got any information from the BCCI Board of Control for Cricket in India which conducts the cashrich Indian Premier League on this issue No we have not asked them They must have either investigated the thing or are still pursuing the case MCAs joint secretary Dr P V Shetty said on SaturdayOn April 10 BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur as well as the Rajasthan Royals team CEO Raghu Iyer had praised the whistleblower for bringing to the BCCIs AntiCorruption and Security Unit ACSU about an alleged approach by another individual to corrupt the game The names of both described as Mumbai Ranji Trophy teammates in a news report one day earlier to the statements of Thakur and Iyer were not revealed in the press statementsAccording to the news report a Mumbaibased Rajasthan Royals player was approached by his Ranji teammate not part of the Royals outfit with an offer of money if he followed a predecided pattern of play The player declined the offer and reported the incident to the BCCIs ACSU which launched an investigation into the incident Today a news report has claimed that it was Royals leg spinner Pravin Tambe who is also a Mumbai Ranji Trophy cricketer who was the whistleblower and had reported the approach made to him to the ACSUAn inappropriate approach was made to a member of the Rajasthan Royals Team that is currently participating in the Pepsi IPL 2015 Thakur had said in his April 10 press release The player who was approached reported the matter to his Team Management immediately who in turn have reported the incident to the AntiCorruption Unit of the BCCI The ACU of the BCCI is currently investigating the matter to ascertain the factsWe are happy to note that the prompt action of the player is an outcome of the ongoing initiative of the BCCI to educate cricketers at various levels to reject and report any such incident or approach made by individuals who intend to damage the fabric of the game Thakur had saidRoyals at the centre of the 2013 spotfixing scandal as well had also confirmed the development and promised zero tolerance Over a month ago a player from Rajasthan Royals was approached inappropriately by a player who was not part of the IPL in connection with the Indian Premier League 2015 matches Royals CEO Raghu Iyer had said in a statement Maintaining high standards of integrity the player informed the Rajasthan Royals management of this inappropriate approachIn keeping with applicable IPL Regulations Rajasthan Royals management immediately reported the incident to the AntiCorruption amp Security Unit ACSU of the BCCI Rajasthan Royals commends the player for having reported this incident immediately and for his honesty and uprightness His dedication to maintain the highest standards of integrity needs to be lauded Iyer added in April press releaseIyer said RR whose players were arrested during the 2013 scandal will take a very strict view of any corruption Rajasthan Royals in keeping with its zero tolerance approach immediately reported the incident further to the ACSUBCCI for further process Rajasthan Royals will continue to provide full support and assistance to the BCCI to ensure that the game of cricket is played in the right spiritThis incident does highlight that if players and other officials cooperate and disclose information or approaches immediately the game can be kept clean and free from undesirable elements and activities he said The incident came on the heels of the 2013 IPL spotfixing scandal which led to the arrests of three Rajasthan Royals cricketers including former India fast bowler S SreesanthThe spotfixing saga also forced N Srinivasan to step down as BCCI president after his soninlaw Gurunath Meiyappan was found guilty of betting Royals coowner Raj Kundra was also questioned during the investigation was indicted by the Supreme Courtappointed Mukul Mudgal committee